Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 316,997	$ 252,765	$ 586,756	$ 482,191
Other operations	14,568	11,531	29,381	23,074
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	331,565	264,296	616,137	505,265
Electric customer credits	(22,495)	(402)	(22,681)	(424)
Operating revenue, net	309,070	263,894	593,456	504,841
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	56,696	72,611	115,743	157,976
Power purchased for utility customers	81,393	13,940	134,117	18,796
Other operations	29,092	31,442	56,081	58,363
Maintenance	26,245	26,310	58,615	43,944
Depreciation	37,570	34,740	79,311	68,773
Taxes other than income taxes	11,567	10,285	25,674	22,919
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(214)	(188)	(145)	846
Total operating expenses	242,349	189,140	469,396	371,617
Operating Income (Loss)	66,721	74,754	124,060	133,224
Interest income	350	257	952	457
Allowance for other funds used during construction	2,029	413	3,660	1,577
Other income	2,495	8,165	3,466	10,438
Other expense	(369)	(1,247)	(1,041)	(1,683)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	20,635	21,017	41,393	42,848
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(570)	(129)	(1,059)	(504)
Total interest charges	20,065	20,888	40,334	42,344
Income before income taxes	51,161	61,454	90,763	101,669
Federal and state income tax expense	14,528	19,422	28,206	32,503
Net income	36,633	42,032	62,557	69,166
Net income applicable to common stock	36,633	42,032	62,557	69,166
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,359,949	60,445,617	60,424,591	60,419,588
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,626,135	60,713,374	60,678,026	60,670,112
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 0.70	$ 1.04	$ 1.15
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.69	$ 1.03	$ 1.14
Dividends declared per share of common stock	$ 0.4000	$ 0.3625	$ 0.7625	$ 0.7000
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	316,997	252,765	586,756	482,191
Other operations	14,027	11,027	28,299	22,064
Affiliate revenue	330	335	665	670
Gross operating revenue	331,354	264,127	615,720	504,925
Electric customer credits	(22,495)	(402)	(22,681)	(424)
Operating revenue, net	308,859	263,725	593,039	504,501
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	56,696	72,611	115,743	157,976
Power purchased for utility customers	81,393	23,247	139,584	32,940
Other operations	29,146	29,540	54,462	54,912
Maintenance	26,203	23,585	56,460	38,379
Depreciation	37,295	32,959	77,498	65,288
Taxes other than income taxes	11,094	9,204	24,069	20,662
Total operating expenses	241,827	191,146	467,816	370,157
Operating Income (Loss)	67,032	72,579	125,223	134,344
Interest income	350	255	951	453
Allowance for other funds used during construction	2,029	413	3,660	1,577
Other income	389	1,268	752	1,965
Other expense	(432)	(1,208)	(941)	(1,652)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	21,209	21,007	41,458	42,731
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(570)	(129)	(1,059)	(504)
Total interest charges	20,639	20,878	40,399	42,227
Income before income taxes	48,729	52,429	89,246	94,460
Federal and state income tax expense	16,071	17,965	30,281	32,203
Net income	$ 32,658	$ 34,464	$ 58,965	$ 62,257